Scan barcode
A review by nikolinaza
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
5.0
Heartbreaking, frustrating, and (a bit if not a lot) disgusting. God, it was a difficult book to read, yet I couldn't t stop myself because I wanted to see what happened in the end.
Rather than romanticizing pedophilia (as few people had said), My Dark Vanessa gives us permission to enter how the mind of the victim of a pedophile works, and also gives us insight how bad grooming can be. Vanessa was groomed so well by Strane, that's why she worshipped and loved him like some kind of God. That's why she stayed by his side even though he had manipulated her a million times. That's why she made him a big part of her life, because he took it from her. There's a lot of part when Vanessa became an enabler and also a bit internally misogynistic (out of jealousy), but while it was extremely infuriating and frustrating, I could see that it was just some of her self defense against her trauma. Tragic but understandable.
The writing was so raw, sans too much dramatic prose, and straight to the point. Even though the half last part was a bit dragging, it wasn't boring at all. Just... like what I've said earlier, it was extremely frustrating.
I have to say the ending was not at all satisfying like what we want, but it was realistic, so I have no right to complain.
5 out of 5 stars.
And I need a light read to heal my soul.
Rather than romanticizing pedophilia (as few people had said), My Dark Vanessa gives us permission to enter how the mind of the victim of a pedophile works, and also gives us insight how bad grooming can be. Vanessa was groomed so well by Strane, that's why she worshipped and loved him like some kind of God. That's why she stayed by his side even though he had manipulated her a million times. That's why she made him a big part of her life, because he took it from her. There's a lot of part when Vanessa became an enabler and also a bit internally misogynistic (out of jealousy), but while it was extremely infuriating and frustrating, I could see that it was just some of her self defense against her trauma. Tragic but understandable.
The writing was so raw, sans too much dramatic prose, and straight to the point. Even though the half last part was a bit dragging, it wasn't boring at all. Just... like what I've said earlier, it was extremely frustrating.
I have to say the ending was not at all satisfying like what we want, but it was realistic, so I have no right to complain.
5 out of 5 stars.
And I need a light read to heal my soul.